Tenerife Tourism Corporation Tenerife Press Dossier 2010
British Guild of Travel Writers 2010
Annual General Meeting 26th to 29th January
Introduction: Tenerife, the perfect escape
Practical information and Curiosities
Ways to enjoy the island
Events and Festivals
An overview of tourist areas in Tenerife
Tenerife, the perfect escape Tenerife is the perfect place to escape from the stresses of everyday life. Year round sunshine, diverse landscapes, idyllic beaches and charming villages make Tenerife an ideal holiday choice. Travellers can choose from a variety of quality accommodation, leading spa facilities, world class golf courses and an endless list of things to do. Just four hours away, Tenerife guarantees an enjoyable holiday for everyone. Known as the Island of Contrasts, Tenerife offers an array of unique experiences and fun activities throughout the year. Favourites include sailing in the Atlantic Ocean, whale and dolphin watching, diving and snorkelling, a jeep safari through the Teide National Park, wine tasting and savouring delicious cuisine.
British Guild of Travel Writers 2010 - Annual General Meeting 26th to 29th January
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Adventure travellers can explore hidden treasures such as “Hells Gorge”, trek through the subtropical forest “Bosque de las Mercedes”, discover one of the world’s largest lava tubes or even climb the majestic Mount Teide which stands at 3,718 metres high. Surrounding this iconic peak is the Teide National Park, recently declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. Practical Information Tenerife is the largest of the Canary Islands and shares capital status with the island of Gran Canaria. Set within a subtropical climate zone, Tenerife boasts year round spring temperatures and an annual average temperature of 23 degrees centigrade. - -
Tenerife is located in the north east of the Atlantic Ocean, just over 300 km off the west coast of Africa The island is located in a subtropical climate zone and it has pleasant spring temperatures year round
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The average annual temperature is 23 degrees centigrade The island of Tenerife covers a total surface area of 2,057 Km2 The population is approximately 865,070 inhabitants Mount Teide is the highest peak in Spain and it is set within the most visited National Park in Spain Over 47% of Tenerife’s territory is protected, occupying a total surface area of 969.24 Km2 Tenerife has two international airports; Reina Sofia Airport (south) and Los Rodeos Airport (north); and one of the largest ports for cruise ships in Spain
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Tenerife is the third largest volcanic island in the world and it is over 10 million years old Tenerife is part of Macronesia, an area of special interest in the Atlantic Ocean because of its rich biodiversity and existing endemic species Wine production was introduced in Tenerife in the 15th century and today the island produces a fine selection of award - winning wines. The famous Malmsey wine or “Malvasía” was one of Shakespeare’s guilty pleasures and was considered “to cheer the senses and perfume the blood” Tenerife is one of the best spots in the world for star gazing. Visitors can see the Milky Way and many wonders of the outer space such as nebulas and shooting stars Tenerife was chosen as a key location for the filming of the remake of “Clash of the Titans”, the film is due to be released in March 2010 Five of the seven existing species of turtles in the world live around Tenerife’s coast (Loggerhead, Kemp’s Ridley, Green, Hawksbill and the Leathery Turtle) The warm temperatures, rich marine life and crystal clear waters around Tenerife are home to pods of pilot whales and bottlenose dolphins. Visitors
British Guild of Travel Writers 2010 - Annual General Meeting 26th to 29th January
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can enjoy seeing these friendly mammals throughout the year. Ways to enjoy the island Luxury and Wellbeing Tenerife Select offers a portfolio of deluxe hotels and resorts offering quality accommodation, services and leisure facilities. The criteria for admission is extremely high; hotels are obliged to achieve and maintain a very high level of satisfaction among their guests, while the restaurants are evaluated by a group of recognised experts in gastronomy. A significant number of new spa and luxury hotel openings in the last couple of years as well as refurbishments and new hotel features have contributed to the expansion of Tenerife’s luxury offering.
Sunshine and sea temperatures ranging between 17 and 25 degrees centigrade invite visitors to enjoy the seaside and water sports. Three hundred and fifty kilometres of coastline offers great locations for windsurfing, surfing and kitesurfing. The island also has modern marinas, a wide range of leisure facilities and excellent diving clubs. Family fun There are plenty of fun activities available for children at any time of the year. Some include: -
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Beaches: golden beaches, volcanic shores, tranquil coves and natural sea water pools provide wonderful seaside settings. Besides an ample range of water sports and facilities available along the coast, families can enjoy the swimming facilities of the Lago Martianez Lido in Puerto de la Cruz. Teide National Park: families can explore the UNESCO World Heritage Site on foot, on a jeep ride or sit back on the cable car while enjoying the stunning volcanic landscape from the heights of Mount Teide Camel riding at Camello Centre (El Tanque) or donkey and pony riding at the Oasis del Valle in La Orotava valley Whale and dolphin watching: excursions are around 3 hours and include a snack on board Theme parks: Ø Loro Parque: (Puerto de la Cruz) Ø Siam Park (Costa Adeje) Ø Ø Ø Ø Ø Ø
British Guild of Travel Writers 2010 - Annual General Meeting 26th to 29th January
Water sports
Pueblo Chico (La Orotava) Aqualand (Costa Adeje) Parque del Drago (Icod de los Vinos) Parque Las Águilas – Jungle Park (Arona) Parque Etnográfico Pirámides de Güímar (Güímar) Parque Marítimo César Manrique (Santa Cruz)
Golf Tenerife is an ideal destination for golf amateurs. Year round sunshine, excellent golf facilities and specialised hotels make Tenerife an ideal destination for golf amateurs. Several of its golf courses have hosted international tournaments such as the Tenerife Ladies Open, which has become one of the most important golf events in Spain. British Felicity Johnson won the victory after competing against 120 professional players. The 8th edition of the championship took place in Golf Costa Adeje from 22 – 27 September 2009.
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Abama Amarilla Golf Buenavista Golf Centro de Golf Los Palos Golf Costa Adeje Golf del Sur Golf Las Americas Real Club de Golf de Tenerife
Discover Hip & Trendy Tenerife Tenerife is fast becoming a ‘hot’ destination for the hip and trendy traveller who seeks to stay in boutique hotels, dine out at chic restaurants and sip cocktails at stylish bars. These travellers are discovering a different side to this popular Canary Island where traditional Canarian culture, local food and wine, and cutting edge architecture and design are proving a big attraction for those seeking a more upmarket and stylish holiday. Tenerife has plenty of five star hotels and the number of boutique style hotels is increasing, especially in the lesser known northern region. The island’s capital, Santa Cruz is also one of its ‘best kept secrets’ and those seeking vibrant nightlife that is most definitely Spanish should plan a night out in the city. The Noria District is the newest and coolest part of town to head for the hippest bars. It is also popular among families, as there is a friendly and welcoming environment.
British Guild of Travel Writers 2010 - Annual General Meeting 26th to 29th January
Golf courses in Tenerife:
Gastronomy Tenerife gastronomy successfully combines traditional recipes with contemporary flavours using first class local produce. Traditional cuisine is characterised by its simplicity, quality and freshness of ingredients. Visitors can enjoy an exciting choice of typical restaurants in which to sample the island’s delicious specialities that include sweet black pudding, meat casseroles, sardines, fried chorizo, octopus, fresh fish and shellfish and ‘papas antiguas’ served with ‘mojo sauce’. ‘Papas antiguas’ or ‘ancient potatoes’ are a gourmet delicacy unique to Tenerife; small potatoes cooked in their skins and served with a spicy green coriander or a red chilli pepper ‘mojo’ sauce. Other traditional products include “gofio”, cheeses, chestnuts, Palm honey and prickly pear jam. Events & Festivals Towns and villages in Tenerife come alive throughout the year with numerous celebrations, festivals and Romerías (lively pilgrimages held in honour of the Virgin Mary or a local Patron Saint), many which stem from religious roots. One of the most popular annual festivals is the vibrant Tenerife Carnival, which takes place in the capital, Santa Cruz, in February, prior to Lent and has become one of Europe’s biggest street parties. This magnificent parade is so spectacular that it rivals Rio in splendour, size and glamour. Each year a different theme is chosen,
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Corpus Christi Flower Carpets (La Orotava) Fiesta del Carmen (Puerto de La Cruz) Romeria de San Roque (Garachico) Hearts of Tejina (Tejina) Fiesta de San Andrés (Icod de los Vinos) Internacional Paragliding Festival (Los Realejos) “Cruces y Fuegos de Mayo” (Los Realejos) Tenerife Beach Volleyball Champions Cup International Junior Surf Competition (Los Realejos) Folk Fest (Arona) Miradas Doc – International Festival for Short Movies (Guia de Isora) Fiesta del Volcán Fiesta de la Almendra (Santiago del Teide)
An overview of tourist areas in Tenerife South of Tenerife South Tenerife is the holiday area with the largest number of hotels and apartments on the island. It is the region blessed with the most sunshine with many well known attractions and easy access to golden beaches. It also boasts picturesque villages that have retained their traditional ambience and striking countryside, ideal for sports and outdoor activities. There are a wide range of night time leisure options plus many high quality shopping malls selling all the top brands. Playa de los Cristianos, Playa de las Américas, Costa Adeje, Los Gigantes, Puerto Santiago, Las Galletas and El Médano are just a few of the key resorts. From many of these holiday hotspots are daily boat trips to see dolphins and pilot whales that live in these waters.
British Guild of Travel Writers 2010 - Annual General Meeting 26th to 29th January
embracing anything from Ancient Egypt to Disney characters and both visitors and locals are encouraged to join in the fun.
Puerto de la Cruz – Valle de La Orotava Situated in North Tenerife, in a valley of outstanding natural beauty, is Puerto de la Cruz. Combining the districts of Puerto de la Cruz, La Orotava and Los Realejos, it is one of Spain’s first holiday destinations. It is a cosmopolitan town with a wide range of hotels and very popular for sightseeing and shopping. In La Orotava and Los Realejos there are plenty of country houses for rent, old buildings to explore (the old quarter in La Orotava is a National Historic Monument) and a range of outdoor activities. On the coast are superb beaches, the original Martiánez sea bathing lake complex and traditional food and handicraft attractions. Isla Baja In Tenerife’s far north west is the Isla Baja region comprising the districts of Buenavista del Norte, Garachico, Los Silos and El Tanque. The villages have
Santa Cruz – La Laguna From a geographic and urban standpoint, Santa Cruz de Tenerife and San Cristóbal de La Laguna are linked and together form the most densely populated area on Tenerife. Santa Cruz is the island’s capital. University town La Laguna has the status of a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Both are highly recommended for strolling and shopping, sampling the local cuisine and enjoying the best of cultural events. The city’s top events venue is the Auditorio de Tenerife, designed by Santiago Calatrava and located next to Santa Cruz harbour. It offers a wide range of concerts, dance and shows throughout the year. This area also offers beaches, swimming pools, the Anaga Rural Park, and is a superb starting point for visiting the rest of the island. Top 10 things to do in Tenerife - - - - - - - - - -
Jeep tour round the Teide National Park Cable car ride up Mount Teide Whale watching Wind surfing in El Medano Siam Park water kingdom Loro Parque wildlife centre Hiking in the Teno Rural Park Caving through volcanic lava tubes Wine tasting Tapas routes in the historical district of Santa Cruz
British Guild of Travel Writers 2010 - Annual General Meeting 26th to 29th January
preserved all their traditional charm and the variety of landscapes and architectural wealth make it an outstanding destination for outdoor activities. The narrow cobbled streets in Garachico, the island’s old commercial capital, boast the Fine Arts Gold Medal for their high level of conservation and antiquity. Throughout Isla Baja, are small coves and rock pools and the extraordinary Teno Rural Park offers great outdoor options to enjoy the beauty and calm of the countryside. The most typical lodgings in this area are rural houses and small boutique hotels.